Record-cabinet.



PATENTED OUT. 2'7, 1903.

L. NEVIUS.

RECORD CABINET.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE23,1'902.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented (*Jctober 2'2, recs.

LOT NEVIUS, OF FRANKFORT, MICHIGAN.

RECORD-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,347, dated October 27, 1903.

A Application filed June 23, 1902. Serial No. 112,827. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LOT NEVIUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Benzie and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Record-Cabinets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel construction in a device for. supporting record-books of the kind in which data or statistics are entered in columns extending across one or two pages, the object being to provide a device by means of whichsuch data or statistics may be accurately copied; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book-holder constructed in accordance with my invention, showing a book in place therein. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of same on the line 3.3 of Fig. 2.

My said device consists of a base A, to the rear side of which is hinged a rectangular frame B, which is supported at any desired incline by means of pivoted legs 0 thereon engaging the racks D on said base A in an obvious manner. Mounted in brackets at one end of said frame B is a rod E, on which a board or plate F is pivotally mounted and is transversely movable. The said plate F extends beyond the opposite end of the frame B and is provided with a reinforcing-strip G at said end, to which a plate H is pivotally secured,rsaid plate being adapted to engage the lower face of a guide flange or strip I on said frame B, thereby holding said plate F down upon the frame B. 4 Said plate F carries two brackets J at its upper edge, one of which carries eyes K, through'which said rod E passes, and both'of which are provided with openings in their outer ends to receive the pivot-lugs of a plate L, which lies parallel with said plate F. The said plateL may be termed a blind-plate, its function being to hide the line or column immediately above the one to be copied, but is adapted to be I raised in case the copyist desires to refer back to the next line or column. Mounted in transverse cross-bars M in said frame B are two shafts N, each carrying cams 0, having curved upper edges adapted to engage the covers of the book P and compress the said books against the plate F. The said cams O are provided with a segmental row Q of wormteeth on their lower edges, which mesh with worms R on transverse shafts S, journaled in the front and rear walls of the frame B and which are turned by means of thumbnuts T on one end of each of said shafts.

My device is especially valuable to an abstractor in assisting him to keep or trace the line in copying; for this reason, to wit: In all abstract-books which I have examined in this State and in various other States the data are arranged in columns extending usually across two pages. These lines of course do not make a sentence, being simply columns of data, so that in copying the clerk has to repeatedly look on the book to read-the data, then transfer same to the copy, and as he has to be absolutely accurate in getting names, dates, amounts, 850., it is necessary as he advances to go back to the beginning of the line each time he copies a word and trace the line in order that he may not make a serious error in the title. This proceeding keeps the clerk at a nervous tension all the time and is exceedingly hard on the eye, as any abstractor can testify.

I claim as my invention- 1. A device for supporting an open book 4 for the purpose of copying data or statistics therefrom, comprising a rectangular frame, guides thereon, a plate movable on said guides,adj ust-able supports movably mounted in the lower end of said frame and adapted to support an open book,and means for'adjusting and holding said supports to compress said book against said movable plate.

2. A device for supporting an open book for the purpose of copying data or statistics therefrom, comprising a rectangular frame, guides thereon, a plate movable on said guides,ad j ustable supports movably mounted in the lower end of said frame and adapted to support an open book, and means for adjusting and holding said supports to compress said book against 'said movable plate, arms on said movable plate, and a blind-plate pivotally mounted in the free ends of said arms, said blind-plate and movable plate being adapted to rest upon the open book to cover lines or columns immediately adjacent the one to be copied, whereby only one column at a time is exposed to the copyist.

frame at any desired incline on said base, shafts supported in said frame, cams carried by said shafts and forming adjustable supports for an open book, means for adjusting and holding said cams, a plate pivotally secured to said frame and movable thereon longitudinally of the supported book, arms on the upper corners of said plate, a blindplate pivotally mounted in the ends of said arms, the space between the free end of said blind-plate and the upper end of said firstnamed plate serving to expose only the line to be copied, said book being adapted to be compressed against said first-named plate by said cams.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOT NEVIUS. Witnesses:

CALLA E. NEVIUS, LEO F. IIALE. 

